Table Tennis: Garstang go close but Raptors retain the title

The local juniors at an advanced training session.

Published:07:00Thursday 06 April 2017

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In the final week of the Lancaster and Morecambe Table Tennis League, Lancaster University A hosted Garstang Annihilators, with Annihilators needing to accrue points to have any chance of overtaking Bulldogs at the top.

Duly the Annihilators team of Tommy Kennedy, Francesca Currie and Mike Armishaw were able to overcome the University A team of Xiao Collins, Katalin Kabai and Dale Brookes, winning by 25 points to 13.

This was quickly followed by a 30-0 win over bottom of table Garstang Bandits to assure Annihilators of at least the runner-up position.

Raptors also had two games to play with the first game against strugglers Trimpell City.

Raptors were also away against mid-table St Luke’s A, with Raptors players Paul Stebbing and Martin Shaw both taking maximum nine points with Dave Smith taking four points. Chris Knowles and John Howarth made the best of the evening for the St Luke’s A side with a notable win against Raptors player Dave Smith taking six and four points each respectively.

The results of the catch-up games means Raptors retain their Premier League title with Annihilators in second place four points ahead of Bulldogs who have led the league since February.

Bulldogs could only look on as their side slid from first to third position in as many days.

At the bottom, the young Garstang Bandits side were left propping up the division with Morecambe B pulling well clear of the relegation battle in the last week of the season.

In the Championship, University Vipers finished in top spot ahead of St Luke’s C, with University Python ending the season in third. At the other end of the table, Morecambe C finished bottom.

The Coronation and Riley Cup competitions will now commence and be played over the coming weeks.

The local junior training sessions will continue after the school Easter break.

The next regional advanced training session is scheduled for this Sunday, April 9 at Garstang High School.